Vascular targets for detecting, imaging and treating neoplasia or neovasculature

Abstract

Methods of delivering an agent in a tissue-specific manner, by targeting annexin A1, a derivative of annexin A1, or a binding partner of annexin A1, are described. The methods can be used for detecting, imaging and/or treating neoplasia, angiogenesis or neovasculature, as well as for diagnostics and methods of assessing treatment efficacy. Antibodies to annexin A1 are also described, as are methods screening for agents altering annexin A1 activity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of delivering an agent into and/or across neovascular endothelium by active transport mediated by caveolae in vivo in a neoplasm-specific manner, comprising contacting the luminal endothelial surface and/or caveolae of neovasculature with said agent that comprises an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to annexin A1 and results in concentration of the agent in a neoplasm in an amount greater than would occur by passive transport. 
     
     
       2. A method of assessing an individual for the presence or absence of a neoplasm, comprising:
 a) delivering an agent of interest into and/or across neovascular endothelium by active transport mediated by caveolae in vivo in a neoplasm-specific manner to the individual wherein the agent of interest comprises an imaging agent component and a targeting agent component, wherein the targeting agent component comprises an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to annexin A1 and results in concentration of the agent in the neoplasm in an amount greater than would occur by passive transport, 
 b) assessing the individual for the presence or absence of the concentration of the agent of interest, 
 
       wherein the presence of the concentration of the agent of interest is indicative of the presence of a neoplasm. 
     
     
       3. A method of delivering an imaging agent into and/or across neovascular endothelium by active transport mediated by caveolae in vivo in a neoplasm-specific manner, comprising contacting the luminal surface and/or caveolae of neovasculature with an agent of interest that comprises an imaging agent component and a targeting agent component, wherein the targeting agent component comprises an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to annexin A1 and results in concentration of the agent in a neoplasm in an amount greater than would occur by passive transport. 
     
     
       4. A method of delivering an agent into and/or across neovascular endothelium by active transport mediated by caveolae in vivo in a neoplasm-specific manner, comprising contacting the luminal endothelial surface and/or caveolae of neovasculature with an agent that comprises an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a derivative of annexin A1, wherein said derivative is a truncated annexin A1 that has a molecular weight of 32-34 kDA and is isolatable from caveolae of tumor tissue, but not from caveolae of normal tissue, and results in concentration of the agent in a neoplasm in an amount greater than would occur by passive transport. 
     
     
       5. A method of assessing an individual for the presence or absence of a neoplasm, comprising:
 a) delivering an agent of interest into and/or across neovascular endothelium by active transport mediated by caveolae in vivo in a neoplasm-specific manner to the individual, wherein the agent of interest comprises an imaging agent component and a targeting agent component, wherein the targeting agent component comprises an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a derivative of annexin A1, wherein the derivative is a truncated annexin A1 that has a molecular weight of 32-34 kDA and is isolatable from caveolae of tumor tissue, but not from caveolae of normal tissue and results in concentration of the agent in a neoplasm in an amount greater than would occur by passive transport, and 
 b) assessing the individual for the presence or absence of the concentration of the agent of interest, 
 
       wherein the presence of the concentration of the agent of interest is indicative of the presence of a neoplasm. 
     
     
       6. A method of delivering an imaging agent into and/or across neovascular endothelium by active transport mediated by caveolae in vivo in a neoplasm-specific manner, comprising contacting the luminal surface and/or caveolae of neovasculature with an agent of interest that comprises an imaging agent component and a targeting agent component, wherein the targeting agent component comprises an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a derivative of annexin A1, wherein the derivative of annexin A1 is a truncated annexin A1 that has a molecular weight of 32-34 kDA and is isolatable from caveolae of tumor tissue, but not from caveolae of normal tissue and results in concentration of the agent in a neoplasm in an amount greater than would occur by passive transport.